Obituary of Dr. Bienvendio Duarte

Dr. Bienvenido Duarte passed away peacefully on Nov. 9, 2019, at the age of 92.

He was a dedicated physician and only retired from psychiatry five years ago at age 87. Over nearly 60 years of practice, he helped countless patients and their families to manage their mental health struggles.

Dr. Duarte had a passion for people and a deep love for his family and many friends, who will dearly miss his contagious laughter and gift for story-telling.

In many ways, he epitomized the American Dream. He grew up in the Dominican Republic, one of nine siblings on his father’s vast farm in the beautiful and fertile Cibao region.

As a young man, he set his sights on becoming a doctor and moved from the countryside into the capital city of Santo Domingo to pursue a medical degree. He graduated from the Universidad de Santo Domingo Medical School in 1953 and began his career as a general practitioner in a small town.

In 1954, he met the love of his life. At a dance, he spied his future bride, Delta Bono, across the room and knew she was the one They met, courted — in the traditional way, with chaperones always present — and were married within a year.

While on the surface life was good, the Dominican Republic was under the oppressive rule of a dictator, and Dr. Duarte planned to immigrate to the United States to enjoy basic freedoms. Leaving behind his new family, he immigrated in 1955 to New York City.

He completed a one-year internship and second year of residency in neuosurgery at Morrisania  Hospital. He decided to switched his medical specialty to psychiatry, and after the young family was reunited, they hopscotched across the country, while he completed his training.

In Pendleton, Ore., he worked at the Eastern Oregon State Hospital and joined the Pendleton Country Club, where he picked up the game of golf, which became a lifelong passion. It was in Oregon, where he proudly became a United States citizen.

In 1965, the family moved to Kankakee, Ill., for Dr. Duarte to reunite with medical-school classmates who were living nearby. He passed the Medical License Boards for New Jersey and California, and they moved to Summit, N.J., where he joined the staff at Fair Oaks Hospital and Overlook Hospital. The family lived in Summit from 1969-2016. He left Fair Oaks Hospital in 1978 to open private offices in Summit, Passaic and Jersey City.

He was a leader within the exiled Dominican community. In the 1970s, he was among the founding members of the Sociedad Medica Dominicana (Dominican Medical Society). He was an active member and served as the president in 1989-90. He was honored with a Golden Merit Award by the Medical Society of New Jersey on the 50th anniversary of his service as a practicing physician.

He played golf nearly every week at various Union County public courses and cherished a plaque he received for making a hole-in-one at the eighth hole of Spooky Brook Golf Course, using his three wood.

He also enjoyed growing tomatoes, playing tennis at the Summit Tennis Club, cheering for the amazing Mets and walking the neighborhood to socialize with friends. 

He volunteered as a coach in the Summit Little League. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a board member of the Union County Medical Society and a Life Member of the American Psychiatric Association. He also was a longtime usher at St. Teresa’s Church in Summit.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Delta Bono; his daughter Carmen and son-in-law Ted von Gerichten of Boston and granddaughters Alexandra and Kristina; daughter Ana and son-in-law Michael McCarthy of Basking Ridge and granddaughter Alissa; Amalia of Mendham and grandchildren Elena and Matthew; and son Eduardo and daughter-in-law Kelly and grandchildren Katerina, Zsofia and Jaimeson, plus many cherished nieces and nephews. He will be missed by all.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, Nov. 12, from 4 p.m.-7 p.m., at the Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home, 101 South Finley Ave, Basking Ridge, NJ. A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 10:30 a.m., at the Church of St. James, 184 South Finley Ave, Basking Ridge, N.J., 07920.

In lieu of flowers, please kindly consider making a donation in memory of Dr. Duarte to:

Basking Ridge EMS

P.O. Box 326

30 Washington Avenue

Basking Ridge, N.J., 07920